Allergic rhinitis and asthma are closely connected — called "United Airway Disease."
Allergic Rhinitis:
- Symptoms: Frequent sneezing, watery runny nose, itchy nose and eyes, nasal congestion.
- Triggers: Dust, pollen, dust mites, animals.
- Seasonal or perennial: Seasonal = spring and autumn. Perennial = year-round.
Asthma:
- Symptoms: Wheezing, shortness of breath, cough, chest tightness.
- Location: Affects lower airways (lungs).
- Severity: More dangerous — may cause severe attacks.
Relationship:
- 80% of asthma patients have allergic rhinitis.
- 40% of allergic rhinitis patients develop asthma.
- Treating allergies improves asthma: Nasal corticosteroid spray reduces asthma attacks by 30%.
- Same triggers cause both — house dust most common.
Treatment:
- Antihistamines (Cetirizine, Fexofenadine) for allergy.
- Nasal corticosteroid spray for chronic inflammation.
- Preventive lung inhaler if asthma is present.
At BEIT TARIQ Center, we treat allergy and asthma together as one integrated disease.